Panda Garden Buffet
429 Hazeldean Rd.
613-836-9977

Price range: $
Reservations: Only for parties of more than four
Rating: 3 out of 5

I have a love/hate relationship with buffets.

I love the variety and opportunity to taste so many items in one sitting. However, what I don’t like is that by the time I get back to my table, much of the food is cold and longing for the heat of the lukewarm chafing dish.

Panda Garden Buffet puts on a giant spread of food. From egg rolls to fries to sushi to ice cream, this place is designed to fill a crowd of hungry bellies.

I filled my plate more than I should and most bites were disappointing. The spring roll was scantily filled, the chicken balls had too much dough for the amount of chicken, and the vegetable dishes were overcooked.

The soup, however, was tasty, and the lemon chicken was tender and nicely flavoured.

The other problem is that I eat too much at a buffet. Waddling out like a panda, I knew that I had consumed a bear’s worth of calories.